Fluid-pressure coupling.



v NO. 743,659.

PATENTED Nov. 10, 1903. M. a. QUAGKENB-USH. FLUID PRESSURE GOUPLING. APPLIGATIQN FILED MAR. 26. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

blvihmmes 4 N l @az 1:": NURRIS wmns ca. Wmmmn'rou, an

3 is an end view of the coupler,

UNITED STATES iPatented November 10, 1903.

MARSHALL G. QUAOKENBUSH, OF

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

FLUlD-PRESSURE COUPLlNG.

srncrrrcnmon forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,659, dated November 10,

Application filed March 26. 1903.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARSHALL G. QuAcK- ENBUSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Colorado Springs, in the county of El Pa'se and State of Golorado,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid- Pressure Couplings; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form av part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in automatic couplers for steam, air, and fluid hose-pipes for use in connection with air-brakes, steam-pipe connections, &c.; and it consists in the provision of means whereby pipes may be coupled without the necessity of a person going between the ends of cars, as is now commonly the custom and which results in great loss of life and various accidents.

The invention more specifically comprises an automatic coupling apparatus of this character com prising an adjustable funnel-shaped guide member adapted to receive a plunger having ducts which communicate with pipes and in the provision of a device whereby the ducts of the plunger are thrown into communication with fluid pressure pipes and valves automatically actuated for opening communication between the train-pipes and the pipes upon two'cars which have been automatically coupled.

The invention consists, further, in various details of construction and in combinations and arrangements of parts,which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims. 1

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this application, and in which drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved coupler, shown as attached to the draw-head of a car-coupler. Fig. 2' is a top plan-view of two couplers connected together, portions of the couplers being shown insection. Fig. and Fig. 4is

Serial No. 149,725. (No model.)

' a cross-sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing parts of the'invention in side elevation.

Reference now being bad to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the drawhead of a car-coupler, and secured to the under face thereof are the brackets B and O, which support the iuid-pressure-pi pc-coupling apparatus. Swivelly mounted upon and depending from the bracket B is a forked yoke D, the arms of which carry a pivotal pin D. upon which is. pivotally mounted a slotted bar E. Mounted upon a pivotal pin E, which is supported in the walls of the slotted portion E? of said bar, is a draw-bar F, having a staple F secured to its under edge, to which one end of aspring G is connected, the other end of the spring being fastoned in an aperture 6 in the lower tapering end of said bar E. 7 The lower end of the bracket-armO has an opening through which the draw-bar F has a passage and has alateral play, the marginal ends of said opening being illustratedby dotted lines 0 in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Said draw-bar F has a head H, having shouldered portions H and H on either edge thereof, said shoulders H being slightly concaved, while the shoulders H are disposed at an angl e, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Links Kand K are mounted upon pivotal pins K adjacent to said shoulders, and the forward ends of said links are in turn pivoted to a block I, which carries pins 1 adjacent to the shouldered portions of said block I, said shoulders being provided for the purpose of allowing a limited vertical movement to the links. Said block I has socured thereto a cross-bar J, one end of which supports the pipes L and the other end of which is forked to receive the shank portion N of the funnel-shaped guide member N, said shank portion N being mounted upon a pivotal pin M, Fig. 2 of the drawings, and projectinglaterally from one side of the shank portion N is a lug N adapted to bear against aspriug-actuated plunger N which is mounted in a hole in said cross-bar J. The inner end of said plunger N has a head adapted to bear a ainst a spring 72, interposed between said head and the bottom of the hole'in which the plunger is mounted, and serves to hold cause the same to be thrown the funnel-shaped tnember in a position to receive the coupling-plunger carried by the end of an adjacent car.

Projecting from the bar Jis a bracket 0, provided to support the pipes L, L, and L the ends of said pipes passing through apertures in the side wall of the shank portion N of said funnel-shaped member, the latter and said shank portion being hollow. A detail View of the connections of one of said pipes with said shank portion is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The slots through which the ends of said pipes enter the shank port-ion N are somewhat elongated in horizontal plane in order to allow for the slight lateral movement of the funnel-shaped member.

Mounted in a recessed portion in the inner inclined face of the funnel-shaped member is a roller P, and Qdesignates a brace which is secured to the cross-bar J by means of a bolt Q or other suit-able fastening means, and the outer end of said brace is secured at Q to the plunger-head R, adapted to enter the funnel-shaped member of an adjacent coupling-head. Said coupling-head R has ducts R, one of which is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, which open through one end of the plunger-head and through one of the longitudinal faces thereof, and the angled ends of said pipes are adapted to enter said ducts in the plunger-head,and when two cars equipped with my improved fluid-pressure couplers come together said brace members Q will cotne in contact with the rollers P, one in each funnel-shaped guide member, and will laterally, so that the ends of the pipes will come into contact with the adjacent face of the plunger-head Rabout the margins of the ducts R, a suitable gasket L being interposed between the ends of said pipes and the ducts in the plunger-head, thus forming a means of communication between the ducts and said pipes.

Pivotally mounted upon an arm N which projects rearwardly frotn the pivotal end of the shank portion N, is a plunger S, which has a longitudinal play in a hole S in the pressure-cylinder S a detail view of which is shown in Fig. 40f the drawings. Said cylinder S is mounted upon a pivotal pin S Fig. 2 of the drawings, and fixed upon the bracket-arms S carried by the plate I. Said cylinder hasadiametrically opposite passageway T, Fig. 4 of the drawings, contracted at its middle portion, as at T, and bisects said hole S at right angles. Said plunger S has an aperture S which may be brought into registration with the passage-way T to allow communication through the cylinder. Fastened at locations diametrically opposite about the circumference of said cylinder are the bosses \V, to which the pipes S and S are connected, said pipe S being adapted to be connected with the train-pipe, While the pipe S is designed to be connected with the pipe L thus forming means of communication from one section of a train-pipe to that of another car when two couplers carried by cars are brought together and connected, and thus producing a pressure upon the plunger which will bear against the pivotal end of the funnel guide and assist in holding the coupling ends of the pipeand plunger together.

Mounted upon the pivotal pin X on the shank portion of'each funnel guide member is a catch X, one end of which a slot X in the wall of the shank portion of the funnel guide, and the other end of the catch is adapted to normally engage a notch J in the bar J when the device is uncoupled, thus holding the funnel guide locked against lateral movement. The forward free end of the catch X is positioned in the path of the plunger R, and as said plunger enters the funnel guide of-an adjacentcouplerand after the free end of the plunger passes by the ends of the pipes entering the elongated apertures in the Walls of the funnel guide member the edge of the plunger coming in contact with the catch will cause the satne to tilt, throwing its rear end out of the notch and allowing the funnel guide member to move laterally upon its pivot. Bythis means it will be observed that the funnel-shaped member is held rigid until the couplers cotne together, after which a free lateral motion is allowed the same.

In the present invention I have shown three pipes, as described, the top one, L being provided for the direct-pressure air, pipe L for the vacuum-pressure air, and the lower one (indicated by letter L) being for conveying steam for heating purposes.

From the foregoing it will be observed that when two cars equipped with similarly-constructed fluid-pressure coupling apparatus come together theplungers R, mounted upon said pipe, will enter the flaring ends of the funnel guides, and the braces Q will contact with the antifriction-rollers P, and the plunger coming in contact with an antifrictionroller P will throw its opposite face so that the ducts therein will register with the ends of the pipes which pass through the wall of the funnel guide, and the coupling is effected. It will also be observed that by the peculiar arrangement of my improved apparatus both a lateral and vertical play are provided for to adapt the same for use in connection with different makes of cars, by which coupling devices may be positioned at different locations. A lateral movement of the funnelshaped member will cause the piston S, which is connected to the pivotal end of the shank portion N, to be moved in the pressure-cylinder S and the fluid-pressure will bear upon the piston and assist in holding the funnel guides in contact with the pipes which pass through the wall thereof. 'When the cars equipped with my apparatus are uncoupled, the spring-actuated plunger N will cause the funnel-shaped guide metnber to be thrown slightly to the opposite direction from that has a play in imparted to the funnel-shaped guide member when the same is coupled, and by the provision of the spring G means is provided for allowing the parts as they are coupled to yield slightly against the impact of the parts coming together.

It will be observed that by the provision of the air-pressure cylinder S additional means is provided for holding the inner ends of the pipes in contact with the plunger by means of the pressure exerted upon the piston S, as described.

\Vhile I have shown a particular construction of apparatus embodying the features of my fluid-pressure coupling, it will be understood that I may make alterations iin the detailed construction of the same without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A fluid-pressure coupler comprising a vertically and laterally adjustable f unuelshaped guide member adapted to be carried by a car, pipes entering apertures in the hollow shank portion of said funnel guide, a plunger having ducts opening through one end and one side thereof and supported on the other end of said pipes, and an inclined member connected to said plunger, a trainpipe, automatically-operated valve mechan' ism in passage-Ways intermediate'the trainpipe and the con pler-pipes,said f unnel-shaped guide adapted to be moved laterally as a plunger of an adjacent coupler enters said funnel-shaped guide, and an inclined member secured to said plunger actuating the funnel-shaped member laterally to throw the pipes which enter the shank portion thereof into communication with the ducts opening through the side of the plunger, as set forth.

2. A fluid-pressure coupler comprising a funnel-shaped guide, a cross-piece on which said member is pivotally mounted, stationary pipes carried by said cross-pieces, the ends of which enter apertures in the wall of the shank portion of the funnel-shaped member, aplunger-head secured to the other ends of said pipes and having ducts opening through one end thereof and through the face of the plunger-head adjacent to said funnel-shaped member, an inclined brace carried by said crossbar and fastened adjacent to said plungerhead, said funnelshaped member adapted to be given a lateral movement by the contact with the inner inclined wall thereof with one of said inclined braces of an interlocking coupler head, whereby the ducts opening through the side of the plunger-head may be thrown into contact with the inner ends of the pipes which pass through the shank pertion of the funnel-shaped member, a trainpipe and communicating passage ways between the same and one of said coupler-pipes, and means for automatically opening com munication bet-ween the train-pipe and one of said coupler-pipes as the couplers are con nected, as set forth.

3. A fluid pressure coupler comprising a funnel-shaped guide, a cross-bar to which the shank portion of said guide member is pivoted, a spring-plunger carried by said crossbar and bearing against a projecting portion upon said funnel-shaped member, apparatus for supporting said funnel shaped member upon a car and adapting the same to have a vertical and lateral motion, pipes supported by said cross-bar and having a play in apertures in the shank portion of the funnelshaped member, a plungerhead supported on the other end of said pipes and having ducts leading through the same and with which said pipes com in unicate, an inclined brace secured to said cross-oar and fastened to said plungerhead, a pressure-cylinder, pipes communicating with the passage-way through said cylinder, a piston-valve mounted in said cylinder and having pivotal connection with the shank portion of said funnel-shaped guide, the apparatus so arranged that when the plungerhead of a coupler enters the funnel-shaped member, the latter will be given a lateral movement to bring the inner ends of the pipes which enter the shank portion of the funnelshaped member into communication with ducts in the adjacent plunger, and automatically open the valve in the pressure-cylinder, whereby the fluid-pressure will act upon the piston and tilt the funnel-shaped guide member, asset forth.

4:. A fluid-pressure coupling for trains, comprising a funnel shaped guide member, a cross-piece on which the same is mounted, pipes carried by said cross-piece and having ends which are adapted to have a play through apertures in the side walls of the shank portion of the funnel-shaped member, a plungerhead having ducts therein mounted on the other ends of said pipes, an inclined member fastened to said cross-piece at one end and its other end, fastened to said plunger, a vertically and laterally movable head to which said cross-piece is connected, a pressure-cylinder pivotally mounted upon said crosspiece securing the head and having a diametrically-disposed passage-way through the same, a piston-plunger having a play in said cylinder and pivoted at one end to a projection on the shank portion of the funnel-shaped member, as set forth.

5. A fluid-pressure coupler comprising a plate adapted to be secured to the draw-bar of a car-coupler, bracket-arms secured thereto, a draw-head supported by said bracket- .arms and adapted to have a lateral and a vertic'al play, a funnel-shaped guide member, a cross-piece supporting the same, link connections between said cross-piece and said draw-head, pipes secured to said cross-piece and having a play in apertures in the hollow portion of the funnel-shaped member, aplunger-head having ducts therein with which the said cross'piece and having a play in the apertures of the shank portion of the guide member, a latch pivoted in a slot in said shank portion and serving to lock said guide member from lateral movement when uncoupled, a tapering plunger-head mounted on the other ends of said pipes, ducts leading through said plunger and communicating with the opposite ends of said pipes, an inclined member secured between said crosspiece and the plunger, a pressure-cylinder, a diametrically-disposed passage-way through said cylinder, a piston-valve working at right angles to said passage-way pivoted to the shank portion of the funnel-shaped guide,

coupling plunger-head, a cross-piece communicating passage-ways between said cylinder and one of said coupler-carrying pipes and the train-pipe, as set forth.

7. A fluid-pressure coupler comprising a plate adapted to be secured to the draw-bar of a car-coupler, a fixed and a pivotal bracket member secured to said plate, a draw-bar pivotally mounted upon said swiveled bracket and guided in an aperture in the fixed bracket, and fluid-pressure coupling mechanism supported by said draw-bar, as set forth.

8. In combination with the draw-head of a car-coupler, aplate secured thereto, a fixed and a swiveled bracket secured to said plate, a bar pivotally mounted upon said swiveled member a draw-bar pivot-ally connected to said bar, a spring secured at one end to the latter and at its other end to said draw-head,

the lower end of the fixed bracket having a guideway in which'said draw-bar has a lateral play, a funnel-shaped guide member, a

supporting said funnel-shaped member and plungerhead, and link connections between the same and said draw-hoaias set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARSHALL G. QUACKENBUSl-I. Witnesses:

TILMoN L. STANLEY, I E, J. KELSEY. 

